IRONDALE, Ala. — Irondale Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. has been selected to join the next cohort of the Early Learning Nation Policy Fellowship, making him the only representative from Alabama in the incoming class this year.
The six-month fellowship is operated by The Hunt Institute in collaboration with the Bezos Family Foundation and will run from September 2026 through February 2027.
The program is by invitation only, bringing together 20 to 30 mayors, county commissioners, and city and county council members from across the nation to focus on early childhood policy and improving services for children and families.
“Every child in Irondale deserves the best possible start in life, and that start begins long before kindergarten,” Stewart said. “I am honored to be the only leader selected from Alabama, and to bring what I learn back home, as we continue building an Irondale where families have access to quality, affordable early childhood programs and every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
The city noted several initiatives that already exist in the city toward that end, including its new MAX On-Demand transit system and a partnership with the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club.
Irondale recently repurposed its former public library for its Boys & Girls Club partnership, which provides after-school programming to students from 3 to 6 p.m.
Stewart said transportation and access to after-school programs still remain a significant challenge for working families in Irondale.
“We know transportation and after-school hours are two of the biggest barriers our working families face, and we are attacking both,” Stewart said.
As part of the fellowship, Mayor Stewart will participate in virtual and in-person programs, including the Early Childhood Leadership Summit on Sept 16-18 in Westminster, Colorado.
In addition, Irondale will receive technical aid from The Hunt Institute in ways tailored to the city’s goals.
The Hunt Institute is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 that works with elected officials across the nation on early childhood education policy.
